Peach tree named Starcrest

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of peach tree, varietal name Starcrest, is a branch mutation of a Springcrest peach. The new variety is characterized by its bright red blush or striped red on yellow-amber brown color fruit, having medium yellow flesh with a yellow pit well. The fruit is symmetrical and round, juicy, has good eating, keeping and shipping qualities and is suitable for fresh market.

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of peach treehaving good keeping and shipping qualities and being useful for freshmarket.

The new variety was discovered in 1978 by Paul Chapus in his orchard ofSpringcrest variety peaches in St-Laurent-du-Pape, France. The newvariety was found as a mutation on a branch of a Springcrest peach tree.

The new variety, given the varietal name Starcrest, was reproducedasexually by Hubert Veauvy. The reproduction was accomplished by takingbudwood from the mother tree and grafting the budwood in 1981/1982.These trees exhibit the same characteristics as the mother tree. Asecond series of grafts were made in 1982/1983. The second series oftrees also exhibit the same characteristics as the mother tree. Theasexual reproduction has taken place at various testing sites in France.

The FIGURE illustrates two external views of the fruit of the newvariety, a longitudinal section of the fruit of the new variety showingthe pit embedded in one half, and two leaves of the new variety.

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

The new variety is of medium size and has medium vigor. The shape of thetree is upright with the shape and density determined by pruning. Thenew variety is moderately productive, bearing regularly. The trunkdiameter, in relation to its length, is 60 cm to 360 cm. The trunk ismedium-stout, with a moderately rough, brown bark. The branches aremedium in size with good angle insertion and moderately rough bark. Thecolor of the branches ranges from brown to reddish-brown. The brancheshave numerous lenticles. The lenticles are medium in size and are ratherpronounced, with raised lips.

The leaves are medium in size, having lengths of about 18 cm and widthsof about 3.9 cm. They are green in color with an elliptic lanceolate.The form of the margin is crenate, while the glandular characteristic isglobose. The petiole is very short, having a length of 0.5 cm and beingmoderately thick. The stem glands number two and are arranged with oneon each side of the stem insert and head of the petiole. The stem glandsare small globose and are green-reddish in color. The leaves havestipules.

The characteristics of the flower are substantially the same as those ofthe Maycrest peach variety.

The fruit matures about 15 days before the Springcrest peach and 5 daysbefore the Springold peach. The fruit ranges in diameter from 56 to 61mm and has an average weight of 85-105 gms. The transverse length insuture plane in 61 mm while the transverse length at right angles to thesuture plane is also 61 mm. The form of the fruit is globose and isquite regular. It is symmetrical, round and regular. The suture isnearly a line and is medium in size, the position of the suture beingnot at all creased in the cavity.

The stem cavity is of medium depth with the apex being rounded, usuallysloping slightly ventrally. The stem has a length of about 1 cm andwidth of about 0.15 cm. The skin is of medium thickness and exhibits notendency to crack. The skin color is a bright red blush or striped redon yellow-amber brown color. Its pubescence is fine and short.

The flesh is medium yellow in color. The color of the pit well isyellow. The fruit is juicy with good flavor, medium aroma and mediumtexture. The fibers are firm but melting. The fruit has good eatingqualities. The stone is semi-free, having a size of 29×22 mm with athickness of 14 mm. The shape of the stone is elliptic to ovate and isbrown in color. The base of the stone slopes somewhat toward the ventralsuture. The grooves in the stone are deep, with the dorsal edge more orless rounded and the ventral edge rather deeply grooved from base toapex. The stone has no tendency to split.

The use of the fruit is intended to be fresh market and has good keepingand shipping qualities. The resistance to disease of the variety inunknown.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of peach tree as described,illustrated and identified by the characteristics enumerated above, thefruit of which is juicy with a medium aroma, has a medium yellow color,provides good eating, keeping and shipping qualities and is useful forfresh market.